Turbo trainers and tyres

captainfirecat

Hi all

What's the concensus on tyres and turbo trainers? Basically once winter hits and my race bike becomes unsafe to ride I intended to bring it indoors, put it on a trainer and leave it there till the ice melts. In which case I also intended to change the back tyre to the one that came with the bike, rather than my kevlar-harder-to-puncture-and-has-a-bit-more-grip-tyre I have on at the moment.

But due to both myself and my wife being injured at the moment we've stepped up the plan and will be getting a trainer this weekend. Am I being over-protective of my tyre to suggest I get another (cheap) wheel and put the default tyre on that, then switch the wheels depending on whether it is in or out of the house?

I suppose the question is, will my tyre wear down faster on the trainer than the road, assuming it is a race tyre with minimal tread (I can find the exact make later if need be)? I'd rather not have to change the wheel every time I change use, but I will if it will dramatically extend the life of my road tyre.

Thanks all!

dnwhite88

A regular road tyre will get shredded on the turbo-buy a dedicated turbo tyre and they last forever

napoleond

I use an old road tyre. Effectively free. I do most of my training on the turbo (have done for the last 5 years) and never needed to buy a turbo specific tyre. I'm only on my 2nd tyre now as I gave my last one to a mate. To use on his turbo.

captainfirecat

NapoleonD wrote:

I use an old road tyre. Effectively free. I do most of my training on the turbo (have done for the last 5 years) and never needed to buy a turbo specific tyre. I'm only on my 2nd tyre now as I gave my last one to a mate. To use on his turbo.

Taking both replies together, in that case I will not risk my 'nice' tyre, but given I have 4 factory standard tyres laying about doing nothing I'll put one of them on and if it wears quickly I'll buy a proper turbo tyre.

Many thanks to you both.

captainfirecat

Ha! Not thought this through have I... If I buy a new wheel and put a tyre on it, I'll also need a cassette to go on said new wheel...

Think on this I will.

diamonddog

Well saved young man

davidof

You may have more slippage problems with a non-turbo tire.

napoleond

Or... You may not. I've never had slippage issues.

FatTed

Just use your old tyres probably worth buying a cheap rear wheel.
I use a Lemond Revolution so no slippage and no wheel.
(very noisy)

sloppyschleckonds

+1
No tyre wear with the Lemond Revolution.

slowbike

definitely go for a second wheel & cassette (just get a lower grade one) and use an old tyre ...

My problem is now that we have 2 bikes with different cog counts to go on the turbo - need another spare wheel!

xscreamsuk

have a specific turbo wheel but with a normal tyre. Done over 600 hours with no problems,

racingcondor

If anybody needs one cheap I've got a Shimano RS10 with a turbo tyre on it (wheel never used on the road) that I used on my turbo until I left it in the sun and boiled the gel chamber... Turbo's don't work well 1/2 full of air.

supermurph09

Apologies for the hijack, when the weather starts to turn I'll most likely hibernate my Planet X 52mm clinchers and bring out my Easton's for road use. Will the Planet X wheels be ok on a turbo trainer? I have a couple of old tyres I can use.

Hawmaw

I use an old steel framed Benotto that cost me £30 on my turbo. I stripped off the brakes and front mech and sold them for £20. I've been using it roughly twice a week for about a year and the old tyre with split sidewalls that came on the bike is still going strong and no noticable slip.

So , no need to by trainer specific tyres.

captainfirecat

Glad my topic lived on
I'm passing Halfords tonight so will call in and price up everything. Possibly stupid question, does the number of gears on the cassette matter here, as I won't be changing gear will I?

diamonddog

CaptainFirecat wrote:

Glad my topic lived on
I'm passing Halfords tonight so will call in and price up everything. Possibly stupid question, does the number of gears on the cassette matter here, as I won't be changing gear will I?

If you use it right you will

diamonddog

Try Decathlon as well for your stuff.

ScreaminWargasm

I think tyre wear very much depends on the turbo being used. I have an Elite Qubo that has an Elastogel roller and have used it a lot this year due to having an accident on the road in april.
As such ive done a lot of miles using my Conti GP 4000s tyres and haven't noticed any more wear than normal road riding.

Mick

captainfirecat

diamonddog wrote:

CaptainFirecat wrote:

Glad my topic lived on
I'm passing Halfords tonight so will call in and price up everything. Possibly stupid question, does the number of gears on the cassette matter here, as I won't be changing gear will I?

If you use it right you will

Haha, shows what I know!

Halfords 'quoted' £50 for a wheel and £25 for a cassette. I suspect I can do better.

fujisst

Yeah, no need to buy a dedicated "trainer tire" from the manufacturers. Just use a tired tire or buy some cheapies from Ribble - 2 for the price of one "trainer tire".